Testimonial Tiff

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, lost his bid today to compel U.S. Central Command chief Gen. David Petraeus and Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, to testify before Congress by Nov. 15. The Senate rejected McCain's proposed amendment on that topic when discussing the fiscal year 2010 defense appropriations bill.

That does not, however, mean for certain that the generals will not testify by Nov. 15. The Senate approved an alternative amendment offered by committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), which calls for the generals to testify on the strategy and resources for operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan after the Obama administration decides what course it will pursue. The White House is in the midst of such decisions, which are reportedly due to be made in a matter of weeks.

McCain suffered another blow last night when the Senate rejected another amendment of his to curtail C-17 funding.